Within Zhuangyuan Pavilion of Xuanjing City, a group of scholars gathered to examine the ancient texts that had recently taken the world by storm.
Ever since the texts surfaced days earlier, the city’s printing houses had been working tirelessly to produce more copies. Even so, demand far outpaced supply. These scholars had managed to obtain a few volumes with great difficulty, so they invited their friends to discuss them together.
“The highest virtue is like water—water benefits all things yet does not contend. Profound, truly profound!”
“The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things. Just these few words reveal boundless profundities. These scriptures are extraordinary!”
“In my opinion, these three thousand words alone surpass all the writings I’ve ever read!”
“I feel the same way!”
“No, no—to me, the profoundness of the Book of Changes surpasses even the Tao Te Ching. Though the language is cryptic and dense, every word is a jewel, as if containing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.”
“Exactly! As heaven moves with vigor, the nobleman strives unceasingly to strengthen himself! It speaks to the very heart of our aspirations!”
The scholars chattered fervently, utterly enraptured.
Just then, one of them suddenly sighed deeply. “To think that such sublime writings lay buried underground for thousands of years, unknown to the world. Every time I consider it, my heart aches with regret!”
His words drew murmurs of agreement.
“Indeed, my late teacher loved books above all else. How delighted he would have been to read these scriptures.”
“All scholars of the past who never had the chance to encounter these texts are truly unfortunate!”
“But, are these scriptures truly the works of ancient sages, lost to war and preserved only as fragments in tombs? I’ve read Zhuangzi and The Analects, yet none of the people or events within appear in any historical records.” One skeptical voice stood out.
The others fell silent for a moment before responding with conviction.
“It must be the case. Writings of this caliber could never be forged by modern hands. Our surviving histories only cover the last three thousand years. Before that, records are sparse. These classics must be relics of that earlier age.”
“I heard that when the School of Historical Inquiry met the Emperor, they claimed that a hundred schools of thought contended in that ancient period, producing classics as numerous as the stars in the sky. What we’re reading now is just a tiny fraction of that lost wisdom.”
A collective gasp rose from the scholars in the pavilion.
“Is that truly the case?!”
“The thought of so many masterpieces still buried, hidden from the world... It pains me to the core! I won’t be able to sleep tonight!”
“Who knows what the other lost classics might be like?”
“Yet these texts were unearthed from ancient tombs. The School of Historical Inquiry advocates large-scale excavations to recover lost scriptures, but such actions violate moral principles.”
The scholars instinctively wanted to agree, but the thought of countless undiscovered masterpieces lying underground made them waver.
“The leader of the School of Historical Inquiry has said that they conduct rescue excavations, acting to protect and not destroy.”
“True. I heard that whenever they excavate a tomb, they carefully extract every artifact and preserve them meticulously, unlike grave robbers who ransack for gold and silver. Damaged items are even restored by specialists.”
“Indeed, we cannot simply equate them with grave robbers.”
Yet among the crowd, many still held opposing views.
“Such words mean little. What difference does it make? Every one of us here has ancestors. How would you feel if your own ancestors’ graves were excavated like this?”
“This precedent must never be set; otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous. We must do everything we can to prevent it.”
“Exactly so.”
Some refrained from voicing their opinions, playing the role of peacemakers.
“His Majesty and the court officials must already be deliberating on this matter. There’s no need for us to concern ourselves too much.”
“Let us observe for now.”
***
As the ancient texts spread throughout the land, fierce debates erupted across Great Xuan.
Scenes like the one in Zhuangyuan Pavilion were repeated throughout the land.
Li Fan knew that changing the minds of the people overnight was impossible. So for now, this was only the beginning.
But Li Fan wasn’t the least bit worried that he would fail.
In this era, scholars held the reins of discourse. With countless classics as bait, Li Fan had no qualms that these scholars would yield. Moreover, he didn’t need their support, only that they didn’t openly oppose him.
While secretly maneuvering for influence, Li Fan also steadily expanded the School of Historical Inquiry’s reach among the commoners.
In Anchor Year 6, the Emperor suddenly fell gravely ill and was confined to his bed. None of the imperial physicians could devise a cure. At this critical moment, the School of Historical Inquiry presented a pill to the throne, claiming it had been discovered in an ancient tomb. They said it was likely left behind by an immortal and held the power to revive the dead and regenerate flesh. They suggested that taking it might save him.
At first, the Emperor ignored them. But as his condition worsened day by day and he teetered on the brink of death, he swallowed the pill in desperation, treating it as a last resort.
To everyone’s astonishment, the pill proved miraculous. Within days, the Emperor recovered fully.
The court was shaken, and officials buzzed with speculation.
The Emperor even summoned the leader of the School of Historical Inquiry for nightly audiences, questioning him at length about immortals and neglecting court affairs for days.
From then on, the Emperor became a firm believer in the existence of immortals. Secretly, he instructed trusted military officers to cooperate with the School of Historical Inquiry in their search for traces of immortals within ancient tombs.
In Anchor Year 9, the School of Historical Inquiry held an exhibition in Xuanjing City, inviting court officials and noble elites to attend.
Though these men were wealthy and knowledgeable, the sight of the rare treasures on display left them utterly enthralled, and they spent long hours lingering in fascination.
Afterward, the School of Historical Inquiry lifted entry restrictions, allowing commoners to purchase tickets and view the exhibits.
Xuanjing City erupted in excitement.
Countless people lined up, eager to catch a glimpse of the treasures. The crowds grew so massive that they clogged the capital’s streets. Only the Emperor’s decree and the armored patrols of the garrison prevented outright chaos.
The exhibition lasted for over half a month. Then, rather than ending, it then began touring, moving across Great Xuan.
In Anchor Year 11, the Jianghuai Prefecture uncovered a major grave-robbing operation, arresting over a hundred perpetrators.
This gang had plundered tombs deep in the mountains, causing irreparable losses.
By law, the entire group should have been sentenced to execution.
But with so many perpetrators involved and the case’s far-reaching implications, Jianghuai Prefecture’s Prefect Li Fan dared not act on his own authority. He drafted a memorial and sent it posthaste—eight hundred li in urgent dispatch—to Xuanjing City, requesting the Emperor’s judgment.
Some officials, incensed upon hearing the news, submitted petitions demanding immediate execution.
Yet strangely, the overwhelming majority of court officials remained silent.
The Emperor, too, withheld all petitions without comment.
A full month passed before the Emperor’s decree finally arrived.
No death sentences were issued. Instead, the verdict was enslavement, with all convicts to be sent to the capital.
Almost no court officials submitted petitions in opposition.
Li Fan glanced at the imperial edict, a faint smile playing on his lips. He knew that the tide’s momentum was now unstoppable.